What libraries need to know about the Digital Equity Act: Signed into law by President Joe Biden on November 15th, 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) includes an historic investment in advancing digital equity and an opportunity for libraries to leverage and expand their digital inclusion roles. The Digital Equity Act (DEA), a provision within IIJA, includes a federal investment of $2.75 billion over five years to promote digital equity, literacy, and inclusion initiatives at the local, state, and national levels. Libraries of all types will be eligible to apply. Read about how your library can prepare for new federal funding in a new American Libraries blog post.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which will be administering many of the IIJA grant programs, is holding virtual listening sessions in January and February to receive input from the public. The sessions are designed to collect stakeholder input to help inform program development and implementation, and libraries are encouraged to participate in one or more of these important discussions.
